Page 2 of Hidden Magic

Gift... that word made her cringe. Most of the time, it was a burden. She felt like a freak at the mercy of the brains she involuntarily connected with. But Brant called it a gift. When he looked at her, touched her, kissed her, he saw the whole of her and there wasn’t judgment or fear in his eyes. And it was the truth, as she’d learned very quickly that there was no trickery with shifters; their thoughts were aligned with their actions. No deceit, no lies. Only the truth.

Kat believed it was who he was, deep inside his soul, that got to her, and forced her to lower her defenses. For the first time since she had been a little girl, she could be herself, quirks and all. Brant didn’t like it when she slipped inside his mind but understood that she was trying her best not to do it. His smile even grew wicked when she admitted that during sex, she couldn’t help it. The most fascinating thing was when he confessed that when she read his thoughts when he was deep inside her, he believed he could see images and heard her voice in his head.

That created more questions that couldn’t be answered. Knowing that they could connect on that level exhilarated her but filled her with fright too. For the very first time in her life, she experienced exactly how it was for others to have the most secret part of themselves violated somehow.

Kat finished placing the small cut-out Christmas trees on the tray before putting them in the oven and setting the timer. A quick look at the clock told her that she had time to grab a glass of water before making another batch of colorful frosting and starting with the ten cakes that had been ordered by Valeria at Sanctuary. That lifted her spirits and filled her body with renewed energy.

Brant talked about Sanctuary like it was the most unique and beautiful place in the world. He was so proud of working there, it filled her with joy. That was a topic they never really discussed though... that he worked there instead of being with his kind. He was the only werelynx there, and only once had she dared to ask if there were others of his kind around. The fire in his dark eyes dimmed and he’d closed himself off, changing the subject.

Kat didn’t have to be telepathic to feel the waves of unease coming from him. She knew he dealt with painful memories and there was no need to push if he wasn’t ready. And if she was honest with herself, she didn’t care. During their time together, she knew he had given her a glimpse into his true self, so there was no need to dig deeper. His past forged his present self, and that was all that mattered. And who was she to force him to reveal himself when she kept so many parts of her own life secret? Sometimes, the pain didn’t have to come to the surface but could stay deep until it lost its hold and disappeared.

As she was about to switch trays, Kat heard the front door open and frowned. Had Rosemary forgotten to lock it? It wouldn’t be surprising. In the small town of Easthallows, everybody was friendly. Locking your door was often an afterthought.

Kat walked into the bakery to see two men standing there. Her entire body stopped as if she’d hit a wall. There wasn’t anything in front of her, but it felt like something tangible had smashed her in the face. Maybe this was only a vision, a nightmare, a trick of her tired body, making her see things that weren’t there.

“I’m sorry, we’re closed.” She sounded like a complete idiot and knew deep in her mind that she had to run, to get out of there quickly and never return, but her body had shut down in fear.

The blond man stepped forward with a smile that was anything but warm. “We’re not here for the pastries, Meghan.”

When he called her by her real name, one she hadn’t used in the last few years on the run, panic seized her throat. Her brain went into overdrive, and she started to move back, hoping to reach the rear door and outrun them.

“I wouldn’t if I were you, Meghan. One of our men is waiting out there as we speak. But feel free to try. I’m sure he would like the hunt. I just can’t guarantee what he will do when he catches you. All we were asked was to capture you alive.” The dark man shook his head.

Still, she retreated. “I’m not going back with you. Never!”

As she finally relaxed enough, she let her mind search for a possible way to escape. Any small glimmer of hope. A minute later, she felt the familiar telepathic connection, and the blond man came forward and slapped her with such force, she fell to the ground.

When the pain receded enough that she could draw a breath, Kat realized she was kneeling on the floor, tears wetting her face. It was only when a tear fell on the ground that she saw she was crying blood.

She was still trying to figure out what that meant when the dark man came over and hoisted her to her feet. “There is no need to fight us, Meghan.”

Still a bit woozy, Kat didn’t move, trying to understand what had just happened to her, her eyes on the men she had hoped to never see again.

The blond man stepped in front of her, opened his mouth as if to speak and froze in place when a big grin split his face and turned to wink at his partner. “Well, it seems that there is someone here fool enough to try to save you. I didn’t know you had a knight in shining armor, Miss Boyden.”

As if on cue, Kat gasped when she saw Brant coming through the front door. The expression on his face was nothing like she had ever seen.

He didn’t speak, didn’t even glance in her direction, his attention was solely on the strangers.

They had formed a perfect triangle; her with her two captors, the two men from her past, and Brant, all the same distance from each other. Brant was still as a statue, and only the low continuous growl coming from his throat could be heard in the bakery.

“Let her go. Now.”

The men didn’t look bothered at all by the threat. Mostly amused, the dark man chuckled. “Whoever you are, you made a great show at defending poor Miss Boyden here, but it was all for nothing.”

Brant’s entire body bunched, as if to launch himself at him or maybe shift into his animal form. Whatever his intentions though, they were dashed quickly when the blond man drew a weapon from his coat with lightning speed and shot three rounds in Brant’s chest.

Kat screamed his name as blood bloomed through his shirt and he swayed, his eyes searching for hers, as he collapsed on the floor.

With all her strength and might, she tried to go to him, help him, but it was no use, they weren’t going to let her go.

As her heart died in her chest, the blond man only smiled at his victim before turning to her.

“It was all for nothing, but quite entertaining, don’t you think, my dear?”

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